HISTORY OF THE LINLITHGOW 



The Laird of Drumcross/ sure, I must not forget, 

 Neat mounted on Franco, his darling and pet ; 

 But he dines just at three, and whatever the fun, 

 He's home by that hour, lest the mutton's o'erdone. 

 Hark away ! &c. 



And now I have given you, as near as I know, 

 A list of who cannot, and those who can go ; 

 Now then, even I, must my garron bestride, 

 Lest the Lithgow and Stirlingshire say I can't ride. 

 Hark away ! &c. 



Whilst each heart with the hope of the Irush now beats high, 

 And echo resounds with the soul-cheering cry, 

 Old reynard, awake to the chance called the main, 

 Puts an end to our hopes, and pops into a drain (a). 

 Hark away ! &c. 



Ah me ! that improvement should prove such a curse 

 To the joys of the chase, though so good for the purse ; 

 Would to goodness the King issued forth his command, 

 For the good of the sport, against draining the land. 

 Hark away, &c. 



And now, ere I draw this grand run to a close, 

 Ere I take to my grubbing and then to my doze, 

 Let me wish to the Lithgow and Stirlingshire hounds, 

 The best of good sport, without measure or bounds ; 

 Hark away ! &c. 



May the Laird of Duns Castle ^ prove steady and true. 

 And give such good sport as to sportsmen is due ; 

 And when at Drumshorelane they muster again. 

 May they not draw it blank, nor fall into a drain. 

 Hark away ! &c.^ 



(a) Whenever a tod was lost, he had cdways gone into a drain. 



1 Mr James Hart of Drumcross. ^ Mr Hay of Duns Castle. 



^ A similar version, without names, appeared in the ' Sporting 

 Magazine,^ August 1828. 



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