Ballad of Glencoe
Ballad of Glencoe | |
| They came in a blizzard, we offered them heat A roof for their heads, dry shoes for their feet We wined them and dined them, they ate of our meat And they slept in the house of MacDonald Chorus: O, cruel was the snow that sweeps Glencoe And covers the grave o' Donald O, cruel was the foe that raped Glencoe And murdered the house of MacDonald.
2. They came from Fort William with murder in mind |
3. They came in the night when the men were asleep This band of Argyles, through snow soft and deep Like murdering foxes amongst helpless sheep They slaughtered the house of MacDonald Chorus:
4. Some died in their beds at the hand of the foe |
Sir,
You are hereby ordered to fall upon the rebels, the M'Donalds, of Glencoe and putt all to the sword under seventy. You are to have special care that the old fox and his sons doe upon no account escape your hands. You are to secure all the avenues, that no man may escape. This you are to putt in execution at five o'clock in the morning precisely, and by that time, or very shortly after it, I'll strive to be att you with a stronger party. If I doe
not come to you att five, you are not to tarry for me, but to fall on. This is by the King's special command, for the good of the country, that these miscreants be cutt off root and branch. See that this be putt in execution without feud or favour, else you may expect to be treated as not true to the king's government, nor a man fitt to carry a commission in the king's service. Expecting you will not faill in the fulfilling hereof as you love y
ourself, I subscribe these with my hand.
Master of the Stair
(John Dalyrmple)
The "old fox" was the clan Chief of the MacDonalds. The "king" referred to was William, Prince of Orange.