Macfarlanes in Song and Story

One doesn't often hear a reference to Clan Macfarlane in song but I found one today.

Hmm I'm not sure, but I think we've been insulted despite helping the MacGregors allies come to their aid......perhaps its as well we're not often mentioned. (Update, did a bit more digging, it seems we also contributed fighting men which explains why the Macfarlanes were proscribed along with the MacGregors. I've long known we had been prescribed around then but the reason had always been vague.)

The Bloody Sarks

A song about the Battle of Glen Fruin which led to Clan MacGregor being outlawed.
lyrics taken from https://www.kinglaoghaire.com 

The young McGregor o Glen Strae wi eighty o his men

Upon the Argyll sleekit word pit Finla's glen a flame

The burning theiving hieland rant drove a the beast awa

And left ahint twa dirkit men to perish in the snaw

By Fallisdall the letter come frae black Dumbarton toon

To show the way they were tae bring McGregor doon

The bloody sarks o butchered men tae Jamie's court maun gae

The widow women for to show and tell of the afray

Colquhoun o Luss could thole nae mair wi trampeled savaged pride

Buchanan levies mounted up to tan McGregor hide

From Leven's vale, Dumbarton toon and all these lowland parts

The burgesses and fairmers came wi vengeance in their hearts

The Campbell and the Cameron, MacDonald o Glencoe

Ranked alang wi Gregorach and marched o'er the snaw

Far o'er the loch frae Arklet glen and doon the past Parlan

By Loch Long whose shores are held by the thieves o MacFarlane

Colquhoun wi his lowland mob lined o'er the Fruin glen

Five hundred foot, arrayed aboot three hundred moutned men

Yon godless hoard o Gregorach and others o their kind

Will creep nae mair frae their lair wi murdering in their minds

Aye whether be it for some stirks or just a ween o blacks

They’re ay'ways quick thier dirks to stick in ain anither backs

For honest men and guid Scots law we'll tramp the vermin oot

Just steady bide God's on our side o that there is nae doubt

Then like a torrent frae the glen McGregor's scarlet charge

The sassenach could ne'er withstand the claymore and the targe

And all around the hellish screams o torn and dying men

Their precious blood seeped in the mud and drained in Fruin Glen

And every beast was lead awa a full twa thoosand heid

And the sairest price the victors paid was twa McGregors dead

But bide ye yet the victor's feast the worst still to show

For the king proclaimed the Gregorach henceforth to be outlaw

Aye the bold McGregor and his clan were a declared outlaw

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In other news, the game is done and rules broadly settled but more on that tomorrow then it's all Huzzah till I get back.