(riding thither) he alwayes did shunne, by reason of this soothsayer's speech; or if at any time he did adventure to go by it, he was sure to be well accompanied, and to have the fields cleared before. But this event discovered his mistaking. It was also told him by some of the same profession, that the same day he was taken, he should be in Aberdene, maugre those that would not so, neither should one drop of his blood be spilt. This seemed to promise him a successeful journey; but the ambiguitie thereof was cleared by his death; for he was indeed that night in Aberdene, being carried thither upon a paire of creels or panniers, and that against the will of all his friends, who would not have had him brought thither in such a guise. Neither did he lose any blood, but was choak'd for want of breath. Such are commonly the answers of such spirits, ambiguous, and of no use to the receivers; yet men's curiositie is so prevalent, that posterity will

2

take no warning of former examples. Murray being glad of this so unlooked-for victory, sent to the ministers of Aberdene to be ready against his coming, to go to the churches, and give God thanks for that day's successe; which they did very solemnly and (no question) heartily, as men are wont to do while the memory of a great delivery is yet fresh in their minds. The next day John Gordon (the earle's son) was execute, and his brother Adam was pardoned, in regard of his youth."-History of the Houses of Douglas and Angus, p. 283.

The ballad, which is distinguished by an astonishing contempt for historical truth, was composed, it is said, by one Forbes, schoolmaster at Mary-Culter, upon Dee side. It is written in the broad Aberdeenshire dialect.

THE

BATTLE OF CORICHIE.

MURN ye heighlands,* and murn ye leighlands,

I trow ye hae meikle need;

For the bonny burn of Corichie
His run this day wi' bleid.

Thi hopeful laird of Finliter,

Erle Huntly's gallant son,

For the love he bare our beauteous quine,

His gart fair Scotland mone.

Heighlands and leighlands, highlands and lowlands.

Hi his braken his ward in Aberdene,
Throu dreid o' the fause Murry;

And his gather't the gentle Gordone clan,
An' his father, auld Huntly.

Fain wad he tak our bonny guide quine,* An' beare hir awa' wi' him;

But Murry's slee wyles spoil't a' thi sport, An' reft him o' lyfe and lim.

Murry gart rayse thi tardy Merns men,
An' Angis, an' mony ane mair,
Erle Morton, and the Byres lord Lindsay,
An' campit at thi hill o' Fare.

Erle Huntly came wi' Haddo Gordone,
An' countit ane thusan men;

But Murry had abien† twal hunder,
Wi' sax score horsemen and ten.

They soundit the bougills and thi trumpits,
And marchit on in brave array,

Till the spiers an' the axis forgatherit, ‡
An' then did begin thi fray.

Guide quine, good queen.
Forgatherit, came together.

† Abien, above,

Thi Gordones sae fercelie did fecht it,
Withouten terror or dreid,

That mony o' Murry's men lay gaspin',
An' dyit thi grund wi' theire bleid.

Then fause Murry feingit to flee them,
An' they pursuit at his backe;
Whan thi haf o' thi Gordones desertit,
An' turnit wi' Murry in a crack.

Wi' hether i'thir bonnits they turnit,

The traitor Haddo o* their heid;

An' flaid + theire brithers an' theire fatheris, An' spoilit, an' left them for deid.

Then Murry cried, to tak' thi aulde Gordone,
An' mony ane ran wi' speid;

But Stuart o' Inchbraik had him stickit,
An' out gushit thi fat lurdane's + bleid.

Than they tuke his twa sones quick and hale, § An' bare them awa to Aberdene;

But sair did our guide quine lament,

Thi waefu' chance that they were tane

*0, at.

+ Flaid, affrighted.

Lurdane's, lording's, lord's.

§ Quick and hale, alive and well.