A doggerel poem about the
“Whigs”

 Cited in Peterkins Records
[fn. p 533] .  Hewison`s Covenanters vol
ii p 198-9  quotes the first 19 lines with an
additional, second, line  ` Or else the end of cauld
November` and refers to a contemporary manuscript about
the time of Rullion Green, 29 November 1666. There is a
suggestion that it may have been composed by William
Cleland, later Lt. Colonel of the Cameronian Regiment.
However, it appears in “Galloway and the Covenanters” by A
S Morton (1914) as by Samuel Colvil in Edinburgh, 1711 ,
but without the verse in [  ] about copying the
Swiss. Whomsoever is the author, it nevertheless paints a
vivid picture of the rough and ready state of this alleged
`army` and the  `rebellion`. The `soldiers` were no
more than a vociferous band of farm labourers and the
like, and hardly a serious threat to the government.

Right well do I the time
remember

It was in Januar or December,

[ Or else the end of cauld
November]

                              
When I did see the outlaw Whigs

Lye scattered up and down the
rigs,

Some had hoggers, some straw
boots,

Some legs uncovered, some no
coats,

Some had halbards, some had
durks,

Some had crooked swords, like
Turks;

Some had slings, some had
flails,

Knit with eel and oxen tails;

Some had spears, some had
pikes,

Some had spades which delvit
dykes;

Some had peat for firie
matches;

Some had guns with roustie
ratches,

Some had bows,but wanted
arrows,

Some had pistols without
marrows;

Some the coulter of a plough,

Some syths had, men and horse
to hough;

And some with a Lochaber axe

Resolved to give Dalziell his
paiks;

Some had cross-bows, some were
slingers,

Some had only knives and
whingers;

But most of all, (believe who
lists,)

Had nought to fight with but
their fists:

They had no colours to
display;

They wanted order and array;

Their officers  and
motion- teachers

Were verie few  beside
their preachers;

[ Without horse, or artilzerie
pieces,

They thought to imitate the
Sweeses,

When from Novarr they sallied
out,

Tremoville and brave Trivulee
to rout. ]

For martial musique 
everie day

They used oft to sing and
pray,

Which chears them more, when
danger comes,

Than others`  trumpets
and their drums,

With such provision as they
had,

They were so stout, or else so
madd,

As to petition once again;

And, if the issue proved 
vain,

They were with resolved,with
one accord,

To fight the battells of the
Lord.

Next:  Rullion Green.