But anis his stomach was asteir.100
With gun and genzie, bow and speir,
Men might see mony a cracked crown!
But up amang the merchant geir,
They were as busy as we were down.
The swallow taill frae tackles flew,105
Five hundredth flain into a flight:
But we had pestelets enew,
And shot among them as we might.
With help of God the game gaed right,
Fra time the foremost of them fell;110
Then ower the know, without goodnight,
They ran with mony a shout and yell.
But after they had turned backs,
Yet Tindail men they turn'd again,
[And had not been the merchant packs,]115
There had been mae of Scotland slain.
But, Jesu! if the folks were fain
To put the bussing on their thies;
And so they fled, wi' a' their main,
Down ower the brae, like clogged bees.120
[Sir Francis Russell] ta'en was there,
And hurt, as we hear men rehearse;
Proud [Wallinton] was wounded sair,
Albeit he be a Fennick fierce.
But if ye wald a souldier search,125
Among them a' were ta'en that night,
Was nane sae wordie to put in verse,
As [Collingwood], that courteous knight.
Young [Henry Schafton], he is hurt;
A souldier shot him wi' a bow;130
Scotland has cause to mak great sturt,
For laiming of the [Laird of Mow].
The Laird's Wat did weel indeed;
His friends stood stoutlie by himsell,
With little Gladstain, gude in need,135
For [Gretein] kend na gude be ill.
The Sheriffe wanted not gude will,
Howbeit he might not fight so fast;
[Beanjeddart, Hundlie, and Hunthill,]
Three, on they laid weel at the last.140
Except the horsemen of the guard,
If I could put men to availe,
None stoutlier stood out for their laird,
Nor did the lads of Liddisdail.
But little harness had we there;145
But auld [Badreule] had on a jack,
And did right weel, I you declare,
With all his Trumbills at his back.
Gude [Edderstane] was not to lack,
[Nor Kirktoun, Newton, noble men!]150
Thir's all the specials I of speake,
By others that I could not ken.
Who did invent that day of play,
We need not fear to find him soon;