Haughs of Cromdale
Words:
Traditional
The lyrics of this song are confused.  The Jacobite army was defeated on the
lowlands (haughs) of Cromdale on 30 April 1690.  But the ballad also adds an
account of Montrose's victory over the Covenenters at Auldearn in 1645.
Montrose wasn't even at the Battle of Cromdale;  he had been dead for 40 years!
Melody:
Traditional
As I came in by Achindoon,
A little wee bit frae the town,
When to the Highlands I was bound
To view the haughs of Cromdale.
I met a man in tartan trews,
I spiered at him what was the news,
Quo' he, "The Highland army rues
That e'er we came to Cromdale.

"We were in bed, sir, every man,
When the English host upon us came;
A bloody battle then began
Upon the haughs of Cromdale.
The English horse they were so rude,
They bathed their hoofs in Highland blood,
But our brave clans, they boldly stood
Upon the haughs of Cromdale.

"But, alas! We could no longer stay,
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 haughs of Cromdale."

"Alas, my lord, you're not so strong,
You scarcely have two thousand men,
And there's twenty-thousand on the plane,
Stand rank and file on Cromdale."
Thus the great Montrose did say,
"I say, direct the nearest way,
For I will o'er the hills this day,
And see the haughs of Cromdale."
 

They were at dinner, every man,
When the great Montrose upon them came;
A second battle then began
Upon the haughs of Cromdale.
The Grant, Mackenzie and M'Ky,
Soon as Montrose they did espy,
O then they fought most valiantly
Upon the haughs of Cromdale.

The M'Donalds they returned again,
The Camerons did their standard join,
M'Intosh played a bloody game
Upon the haughs of Cromdale.
The M'Gregors fought like lions bold,
M'Phersons, none could them control,
M'Lauchlins fought, like loyal souls
Upon the haughs of Cromdale.

M'Leans, M'Dougals, and M'Neils,
So boldly as they took the field,
And made their enemies to yield
Upon the haughs of Cromdale.
The Gordons boldly did advance,
The Frasers fought with sword and lance,
The Grahams they made the heads to dance,
Upon the haughs of Cromdale.

The loyal Stewarts, with Montrose,
So boldly set upon their foes,
And brought them down with Highland blows
Upon the haughs of Cromdale.
Of twenty-thousand Cromwell's men,
Five-hundred fled to Aberdeen,
The rest of them lie on the plain,
Upon the haughs of Cromdale.

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