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EBBA 31328

British Library - Roxburghe
Ballad XSLT Template
The true Scots Mens Lament, for the Loss of the Rights of their Ancient Kingdom,

SHall Monarchy be quite forgot,
and of it no more heard;
Antiquity be razed out,
and Slavry put in stead:
Is Scots Mens Blood now grown so cold,
the Valour of their Mind,
That they can never once reflect
on old long sine, etc.

What shall become now of our Crown,
we have so long possest?
Is it no more Fashionable,
that we should have it drest?
Shall we it for Tobacco sell,
and never once repine?
Ah, then its late for to Reflect
on old long sine, etc.

How oft have our Fore-fathers spent
their Blood in its Defence;
Shall we then have it stoln away
by English Influence?
Well curse the Actors of the Deed,
when under Yoke we pine:
Why will ye not again reflect
on old long sine, etc.?

Old Albion, what will come of thee,
when England sits thy Judge?
May thou not only then expect
Oppression, but Refuge?
Its their Design to ruin thee,
as clearly may be seen:
Why wilt thou not again reflect,
on old long sine, etc.

How shall our crazy Shoulders bear
the Burden of their Tax?
Tho they be rich, and we but poor,
they will not us relax;
Unless some skilful one ovrturn
the Ground of the Design;
But then its late for to reflect
on old long sine, etc.

The Name of Britain shortly will
thy Body hence possess;
England thy Head will flourish great,
thy Body will decrease:
The Union will thy Ruin be,
thoult know in future Time;
[?] you seem for to forget
good old long sine, etc.

Was not our Nation sometime brave,
invincible and stout?
Conquering Cesar that great King
could not it put to Rout;
Nor not so much as Tribute get
for all his great Design:
These Men I think thought to maintain
good old long sine, etc.

Did not Romish Ambassadors
before our King kneel down?
I mean Corbredus Claudius great,
most valiant of Renown:
And the Proposals of a Peace,
unto him did resig[n]
These Actions may make us reflect
on old long sine, etc.

The Royal Bruce, if now alive,
he surely would regret,
And blame our Grandees irefully
of Scotlands wretched State;

And tell them he prizd Monarchy,
while he was in his Prime,
And bid them look right speedily
to old long sine, etc.

May not Experience teach thee well,
in Edward Longshanks Reign,
How they pretended good to thee,
yet since meant no such Thing;
But meerly stole from us the Chair
we did so high esteem:
Its strange to me ye should forget
good old long sine, etc.

Yet it was not by their own Strength,
that they gaind such a Prize;
But by our own base Malcontents,
who did them well advise;
I mean, the Cuming, Kirkpatrick,
Vallange of treachrous Mind:
Such Men I fear have now the Cause,
that we must now so pine.

Do not you mind the Barns of Air,
where Eighteen Score were Killd,
Under the Colour of a Truce,
our Worthies Blood was spilld?
And what by Force they could not win,
by Fraud they did obtain:
Me wonders you should so forget,
good old long sine, etc.

Remember William Wallace Wight,
and his Accomplices;
Scotland they undertook to free,
when it was in Distress.
Likewise Sir James the Black Douglass,
under the Bruces Reign:
These Men spard not their Blood to spill,
for old long sine, etc.

Why did thou then thy Union break,
thou had of late with France,
Where Honours were conferrd on thee?
but now not sos thy Chance:
Thou must subject thy Neck unto
an high proud Nation;
And more and more strive to forget
good old long sine, etc.

Was it their seeming Riches that
induced thee to sell
Thy Honours, which as never yet
no Monarch evr could quell;
Nor our Integrities once break,
in all the bygone Time?
Yet now you seem for to forget
good old long sine, etc.

The elder Brother let him read
the Neighbour Margin Line;
The second let him but look back
to ruind Darien:
Im hopeful then you will remorse,
on former Ill thats done;
And strive in Time for to maintain
good old long sine, etc.

Now mark and see what is the Cause
of this so great a Fall;
Contempt of Faith, Falshood, Deceit,
and Villany withall;
But rouse your selves like Scotish Lads,
and quit your selves as Men,
And more and more strive to maintain
good old long sine, etc.


FINIS.

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