his man,
Halyburton felled the sergeant lad, Dunbar seized the gunner, Swan;
Roy bound their hands, in hempen bands, and the Cavaliers were
free.
And they trained the guns on the soldier loons that were down wi'
the boat by the sea!
Then Middleton cried frae the high cliff-side, and his voice garr'd
the auld rocks ring,
'Will ye stand or flee by the land or sea, for I hold the Bass for
the King?'

They had nae desire to face the fire; it was mair than men might
do,
So they e'en sailed back in the auld coal-smack, a sorry and shame-
faced crew,
And they hirpled doun to Edinburgh toun, wi' the story of their
shames,
How the prisoners bold had broken hold, and kept the Bass for King
James.

King James he has sent them guns and men, and the Whigs they guard
the Bass,
But they never could catch the Cavaliers, who took toll of ships
that pass,
They fared wild and free as the birds o' the sea, and at night they
went on the wing,
And they lifted the kye o' Whigs far and nigh, and they revelled
and drank to the King.

Then Wullie Wanbeard sends his ships to siege the Bass in form,