Epigraph

“The heather’s in a blaze, Willie,
    The White Rose decks the tree,
  The Fiery-Cross is on the braes,
    And the King is on the sea.

“Remember great Montrose, Willie,
    Remember fair Dundee,
  And strike one stroke at the foreign foes
    Of the King that’s on the sea.

“There’s Gordons in the North, Willie,
    Are rising frank and free,
  Shall a Kenmure Gordon not go forth
    For the King that’s on the sea?

“A trusty sword to draw, Willie,
    A comely weird to dree,
  For the royal Rose that’s like the snaw,
    And the King that’s on the sea!”

He cast ae look upon his lands,
    Looked over loch and lea,
  He took his fortune in his hands,
    For the King was on the sea.

Kenmures have fought in Galloway
    For Kirk and Presbyt’rie,
  This Kenmure faced his dying day,
    For King James across the sea.

It little skills what faith men vaunt,
    If loyal men they be
  To Christ’s ain Kirk and Covenant,
    Or the King that’s o’er the sea.

ANDREW LANG.