Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Scotland: Vols. VI–VIII. 1876–79.
The Haws of Cromdale
By AnonymousA
A little wee bit frae the town,
When to the Highlands I was bown,
To view the haws of Cromdale,
I spier’d at him what was the news;
Quoth he, “The Highland army rues
That e’er we came to Cromdale.”
When the English host upon us came;
A bloody battle then began
Upon the haws of Cromdale.
They bath’d their hoofs in Highland blood,
But our brave clans they boldly stood,
Upon the haws of Cromdale.
For o’er the hills we came away,
And sore we do lament the day
That e’er we came to Cromdale.”
Thus the great Montrose did say,
“Can you direct the nearest way?
For I will o’er the hills this day,
And view the haws of Cromdale.”
You scarcely have two thousand men,
And there ’s twenty thousand on the plain,
Stand rank and file on Cromdale.”
“I say, direct the nearest way,
For I will o’er the hills this day,
And see the haws of Cromdale.”
When great Montrose upon them came;
A second battle then began
Upon the haws of Cromdale.
Soon as Montrose they did espy,
O then they fought most vehemently,
Upon the haws of Cromdale.
The Camerons did their standard join,
M’Intosh play’d a bonny game,
Upon the haws of Cromdale.
M’Phersons, none could them controul,
M’Lauchlins fought like loyal souls,
Upon the haws of Cromdale.
So boldly as they took the field,
And made their enemies to yield,
Upon the haws of Cromdale.)
The Fraziers (fought) with sword and lance,
The Grahams they made their heads to dance,
Upon the haws of Cromdale.
So boldly set upon their foes,
And brought them down with highland blows,
Upon the haws of Cromdale.
Five hundred went to Aberdeen,
The rest of them lyes on the plain,
Upon the haws of Cromdale.