HISTORY OF THE LINLITHGOW 



may be accepted as certain, for as already indicated, 

 many of them were either of Beaufort or Lonsdale 

 blood, each of which was noted for tongue. Indeed, 

 from the nature of the country, abounding as it 

 does in strips and woodlands, it is more than pro- 

 bable that the Linlithgow and Stirlingshire pack 

 has never been altogether an unmusical one, al- 

 though the quality may have varied in degree 

 from time to time. There could, however, owing 

 to the pace, be but little music from the pack in 

 a run such as that from " Drumshorlan to Mar" 

 described in verse, and handed down under the 

 title of " A West-Lothian Song." 



A WEST-LOTHIAN SONG. 



Our nags are all saddled, — our hearts full of glee ; 



The hounds, gathered round, are awaiting the Squire ; ■'■ 

 Drumshorlan's the cover, — and certain are we 



That it covers a fox, if there's one in the shire : — 

 So look to your girthing, — there's "promise of ■war " 

 For this is the season when foxes run far : 

 There's death in the gale ; — 

 Such a breeze cannot fail 

 To carry the scent from Drumshorlan to Mar. 



'Tis late in the season, and breathing of spring, 



There's a gleam of the sun thro' the grey cloudy sky ; 

 And here comes the Squire, like a bird on the wing ; — 

 So men, mount your nags, for the moment is nigh : — 

 See close to the cover old Christopher ^ stand ! 

 His heart in his eye, and his cap in his hand : — 

 " Hark in hark," is the cry, 

 With one cheer, or thereby ; 

 And the pack has rush'd in like a conquering band. 



1 Mr Ramsay of Barnton. ^ Christopher Scott, huntsniau. 



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