not hitherto appeared in print. It is certainly not in Child's
Collection. It was taken down from the singing of an aged man of
105 years, in Glen Kennaquhair. Internal evidence would tend to
show that the incidents recorded in the ballad occurred in the
seventeenth century, and that Sir Walter Scott had heard at least
one verse of it. The aged singer-now, alas! no more-sang it to the
air of "Barbara Allen."]

It was an' aboot the Lammas time,
In sixteen forty-three, sirs,
That there fell oot the awfu' fecht
'Twixt Macfadden an' Macfee, sirs.

Macfadden, wha was gaun to kirk
Upon the morn's morn,
Had washed his kilt an' cleaned his dirk
An' combed his Sabbath sporran.

An' bein' for the time o' year
Remarkably fine weather,
These articles o' dress were laid
To air upon the heather.

Waes me! Macfee, while dandrin' owre
The bonnie braes o' Lorne,
Maun gang an' pit his muckle fit
Upon Macfadden's sporran.

A piece o' carelessness like this
The brichtest heart would sadden,