An account of the Life and Bloody Death of
William Lawries Dog
To the Tune of, the Ladies Daughter,
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William Lawrie had a Dog,
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which he with meikle care,
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Did train, teach, and bring him up,
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And breeding did not spare
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First he began to hunt the Hens,
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And then because he saw
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It pleas'd his Master, he began,
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To try the Sheep with a
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Then Sandie Marshal's sheep drew near
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Because of winter Storm
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And Willie Lawrie hunts his Dog,
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Thinking to do no harm
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The Dog then running mirrily
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At last did grip a Sheep,
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And turn'd him over & held him fast
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Which made his master weep
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Alas! said he, this knaving Dog,
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In's youth has got a trick
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Instead of Hunting worries Sheep
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To get their Blood to lick.
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It seems my Dog hath surely seen,
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My name Father some time,
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Preparing Dinner for his Folk
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To make them quickly dine.
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The Dog then went unto the Hill
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That some what he might spy
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He found a Sheep, that fast a sleep,
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Upon the Ground did lie,
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The Hogie on Craighersie stands
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And he beholding sees
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The Dog and Sheep together fast
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Then he begins and crys.
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Then Hogie said, I will away,
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Unto the place I will,
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Go tell my Master how that he
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Doth guide the Wester-hill,
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The Order was cause bring the man
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and Dog into the place,
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And if he Guilty were, he should
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Be hang'd before his face.
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Then Robert Staker Officer
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Sent out his awful word
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Then Lawrie and his Dog in hast,
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Came trotting thitherward.
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The Justice he Pursued the Cause
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A Court was called in hast,
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Of wise and understanding Men
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To end this Plea at last.
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There was six weighty heads of wit
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That set upon the Size,
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They did ordain the Dog to hing,
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Or else a Ransome twise.
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Then Lawrie he stood up and said
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I Caution for him will,
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In spite of all that are his foes
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Though they should lie their fill.
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But Lawries tricks are so well known
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To all men that buy Sheep,
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That we will not his word believe
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Say to us what he like
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Then Sentence being past at which
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The Dempster he did cry
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Gar take the Dog and hold him fast,
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That he may quickly dye.
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John Hutton he the Dog did gripp
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And held him by the Neck,
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And Kirkhall with a weightie Ax
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Gives him a deadly Stroke,
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Then Sandie Drysdale as I think
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To the Dog proved a friend
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With an Ax another stroak
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Upon the Ear did hind,
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The Pear Tree, may Sandie thank
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For he the Dog did bear,
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He made a Grave and laid him in
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And covered him with care
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So this most trusty Dog is Dead
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What can there more be said
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For Lawries loss is very much
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his worth is very great.
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Then Willie Lawrie wrang his hands
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And said what will I do
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I fear my Wife will troubled be
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And all my Servants too.
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I lost a Cow cost twenty Pound.
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For her I did not grieve,
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In such a sort as for my Dog,
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Who comfort did me give.
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My dear Wife, keep up your heart
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A Dog I'le have in heast
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To lick the Pot, and hunt the Hens
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And runn at any Beast.
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A Mastive Dog I cannot keep
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Because I am not able,
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To keep such Guests about my hand,
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And feed beneath my Table.
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I'le to my Master write a Line,
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And cause him search and see
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To get a Dog to me in hast
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Suppose he should him buy;
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If I had payed the Shepherds Sheep
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That he of me did crave,
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I wot me Dog had not been kill'd
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but liv'd among the leave.
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Henry Breadyells bears the blame,
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Of William Lawries Dog,
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And so the Scorn and charge of him
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lyes heavy on his head.
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